Refrigerating system



Dec.A 13, 1932. R. E. scHURTz REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed May 18, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fa/1I .IE 32k/z. ATTOR/gr Dec. 13, 1932. R E, SCHURTZ1,891,028

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed May 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 2 Zf/ ff.; r

W/f/f mgl/mil Patented Dee. 13, 1932 I.

STATES PATENT AOFFICE RALPH n. scIIUzaTz, or KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI,AssIeNoa, BY irns'nn ASSIGNMENTS,

QF ONE-HALF T018. W. BAILEY LAND C. T. J'BES, BOTH OF KANSAS CITY,MISSOURI REFBIGEBATING SYSTEM Application led Hay 18,

rlllis invention relates to refrigeration, the primary object being toprovide an improved refrigerating system; particularlv of the continuousdistillation and absorption type, the flow of the liquid and gaseouscontents of the refrigerant being automatically controlled in a novelmanner.

rlhe novel construction, arrangement and combinations of parts by meansof which the lso Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical, longitudinal, h theabsorber and the transfer device, parts being shown in eleva-vsectional, vieW throug tion.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the receiver, the oat-controlled fuelvalve and the oat being shown in'section. y

Fig. 4 1s an elevational view of a valve seat having a port. adapted tobe opened to establish. equalization of pressure between the still andthe transfer device, alike valve being used at tle bottomof the transfer`der vlce.

Fig. 5 is asimilar-view of a. valve seat having ports for admitting richliquor tothe transfer device and permitting gas to escape from thetransfer device. L

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview through a thermostat control for permittingyweak liquor to pass from the st-ill to -the absorber.

Fig. 7 `is a cross sectional view on the line 7--7of Fig. 2, and

' Fig. 8 ris a longitudinal, sectional view through a thermostaticallycont-rolled expansion valve for regulating the flow of the activecontentof the4 refrigerant from the receiver to the expansion coil.

In this description the refrigerant will be referred to asaqua-ammonia', the Water as the inactive or absorbent content and theammonia as the active content of the refrigerant.

192s. serial no. 639,860.

The absorber 1 initially receives relatively rich liquor, that is,Waterrich in ammonia. rilhe rich llquor. passes from the absorber into atransfer device 2, from which it is delivered to the still 3. Beforepassing to the still 31 prefer to pass it through a preheater 4 and thenthrough a rectifier 5 and preheater 2 2 so that it cantake up some ofthe heat in the preheater and in the rectifier and enter the still at atemperature above that at which it leaves the transfer device, thepurpose being to permit the rich liquor` to enterthe still 3 at .atemperature as near as practicable to thevaporizing temperature of theammonia .so that it will require a minimum expenditure of'heat at thestill for vaporization.`

When the rich liquor has been received in the still, it is subjected'toheat from a suitable source, as, for example, from a burner 6. Thesource of heat for the stilly may be a burner of any yap rovedconstruction, for

rural service, I pre er an oil burner but other ,heaters may beemployed. When .the -temperature of the rich liquor has been raised to`the vaporization point, the vapors pass by al pipe 7 through therectifierv 5. Here the Water vapors condense at a temperature higherthan the condensing temperature of the ammonia or active content so thewater is separated from the ammonia and gravitates back to the still.The ammonia gases pass 011 to na condenser coil 8 immersed in a .coolingfluid (for example, Water) in the tanks 9.Y

The number of tanks utilized will depend upon the capacity of the systemas obviously one tank mlghtbe employed fora given output, or anyadditional number of tanks might be employed for increased output orincreased size of machine. y

The active content is vconverted froml the gaseous phase/to the liquidphase as it passes through thev condenser coil 8 and it then collects ina receiver 10 Where it is fed to thek expansion coil 11 through anexpansion -valve v13, the outlet of whichis controlled by a thermostat14. The active content passes through the coil 11` and then returns tothe absorber 1, preferably through the coil 15 in the preheater tank iand through a cooling' coil 16 in the cooling tank 17. The coil 16enters the absorber 1 near the bottom and there is an overflow pipe 18near the top but below the normal liquid level of the absorber 1, whichmerges into a coil 19 in the cooling tank 20, .the coil 19 beingconnected to the coil through the pipe 21. As the gas passes through thecoil 15. it combines with specific gravity below that of the weak liquorentering the loop consisting of the pipe 18,

coil 19. pipe 21. coil 15. and coil 16. and.

being lighter as well as being propelled by rising bubbles of gas for adistance, will flow to the absorber while the richer liquorA will flow4from the absorber to the loop so that the weak liquor in the absorber 1can circulate through the cooling tanks 17 and 2O and the preheater 4.Therefore, its temperature] 4 .will be reduced low enough to absorb theammonia and 'thereby becomean enriched liquor before it re-enters theabsorber to reach the transfer device 2v preparatory to. being fed backinto, the still.

According to the construction shown. the liquor from the rectifier 5enters the still 3 through a heat exchanger tank 22, connected to therectifier 5 by a pipe 23 and itptlows into the still 3 through vthe pipe24 atthe top of the heat exchanger tank 22. AThe weak liquor from thestill 3 is transferred to the absorber through the pipe 25, the lowerend of which is submerged in the liquor in the still 3 and merges into acoil 26 in the heat exchanging tank 22, leading therefrom into thecasing of a thermostatically controlled valvel 27. .An

eiiluentpipe 28 from the valve 27 merges into a coil 29 in the coolingtank 17. the upper end of the coil 29 being connected to the top of theabsorber tank 1 through a bushing-30,

so that it delivers liquor to a pan 32 in the extreme upper part of theabsorber, there being a branch pipe 31 connected to the pipe 21 andpassing through the bottom of the absorber and constituting an over-flowpipe for the pan 32.

The specific details of the illustrated embodiment of my invention willnow be described. Y

The absorber tank 1 is iirst suppliedwith a refrigerant, for example,aqua-ammonia of the requisite strength, the strength being estimated inView of the particular system in which it is to be introduced. It willbe a relatively strong solution, however, for eX- ample, from to 40 percent is recommended. The aqua-ammonia can ybe introduced into theabsorber 1 through a normally closed inlet port 34.

When the liquor thus introduced into the absorber tank 1 reaches adetermined height, it fills the vertical pipe 35 in the absorber tankwhose lower. end terminates slightly' above the bottom thereof. From thepipe 35 the liquor overflows into the elbow 36 and through the lower endof the goose-neck 37 which communicates with one side of a port 38 inthe valve seat 39 forming one wall of the valve chest 40. The valvechest is divided into two compartments 41 and 42 by aplate 43 having aport 7 9 therethrough and with its facing constituting a valve seat fora pressure-.equalizing valve- 44, having a port 75 therethrough andreferred to hereinafter.

Slidable on the valve seat 39 is a valve 45, held in sliding contactwith the seat39'by a spring 46. The valve 45 has a port 47 which is inregister with the port 33 when the transfer tank 2'is being filledthrough the pipe 35, elbow 36 and goose-neck 37. Therefore, as therefrigerant is initially introduced into the absorber tank 1, it willflow into'the transfer device until a float 48 rises high enough inthetransfer tank 2 to close communication between the .absorber 1 and'thetank 2. fllhe float actuates the valve indirectly through certainmechanism which l will now describe.

A. Arod 49 extends practically the entire length of the tank and at itsupperv end it is fastened by a cross pin 50 to the valve 45 and to thevalve 44. At the lower end of the rod 49 a stud or cross pin 51 connectsit to a slide valve 52 movable over an inverted-'lshapcd slot 53 in thewall 54 of a valve chest 55. rlhe valve chest has its inlet openingthrough the slot 53 and its discharge through a pipe 56, communicatingwith the bottom of the preheater 4 although if desired, the -preheater 4can be eliminated and the pipe 56 can feed directly into the rectifier 5instead of through the preheater tank 4 and the pipe 57 as shown. If thepreheater and loop 18-192115-16 are eliminated and the liquor allowed toflow directly into the rectifier or into the still, the pipe 31will-also be eliminated, in which event the liquor will overflow frompan 32 directly into the absorber. The valve 52 is located on the insideof the valve chest 'and it is normally urged into seating position by aspring Y 57 The. rod loosely carries at its lower end a notcheddetent-receiving member58 having two notches to receive the yieldingdetent 59 on the bracket 60. The detent is4 preferably provided at itsengaging end with a roller or anti-friction device and it is urged intonotchengaging position by a spring 61, the device 58 being held againstyielding by the links 62 and 63, which rock on knife edges so that therod can only move in a vertical position and any material sidewisemovement will be prevented. I

The`rod'49 carries collars 64 and 65. The collar 64 is adapted toreceive pressure iifa-n upward direction by a plate 66 when the iioat 48rises, there being operating mechanism be?, tween the float and theplate. The operating mechanism consists of links 67 and 68 pivoted rods71 and 72 so that the heads 73 and 74 on the lower ends of the rods 71and 72 will eny all three valves 44, 45 and 52, the port 38 will gagethe plate 66 causing it to lift against the collar 64 and raise collar65 and rod 49. forc ing the detent 59 out of engagement with 'the uppernotch `and allowing it to drop into the position shown in Fig. 2. Thisaction causes final and operativeY movement of the r'od 49 with a `snapaction. This upward vertical, longitudinal movement of the rod willshift -be closed, the port will be open with port 79, port 53 will beopen and port 76 in valve seat 39 communicating with the gas escapeTherefore, communication will be established between the top of thestilland the top of the transfer device through nthe pipe 7 and branchpipe 78, which passe through the absorber and into the chamber'4l, andbetween the bottom of the still and the bottom of the transfer throughpipe 56 and port 53. Sincecommunication is thus established betweenl thestill and the transfer device and all other communications with thetransfer device or tank 12k are cut off., it is obvious that there willbe an equalization of pressure between the still and the transfer deviceand the rich liquor in the transfer tank 2 will flow by gravity into thestill. J

As the level in the transfer tank recedes, the oat 48 willV drop but thevalve 52 will remain open until the top. collars on the rods 71 and 72strike against the plate 66, forcing the detent engaging device 58downward and causing the detent 59 to move into the top notchy with asnap action the reverse of their.

previous movement. This will take place only when the transfer tank 2`is about eX-' hausted of liquor. Then the valves 52 and 44 willf'beclosed and valve 45 open to uncover ports 38 and 76. Communication willthus be again established between the absorber and transfer device andcommunication between the still and the transfer device cut OH.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the port 7 9complement-ary to the port 75 yis in the form of an inverted T. This isto permit the cross pin '50 to move into the por- 50 tion 80 when thetransverse portions y,of the ports 79 and' 75 are in register'.

In other words, it permits; the piris to play up 4and down in theportion 80.

Attention is called to the fact that as the C5 valve connecting rod 49moves downward to pipe 77 in goose-neck 37, will also be closed.,

tion in the tube by aspring 85.

close the yvalves 44 and 52, communication ing its bight above thepan 32and at lts eX- tremity a tubular foraminate ring 81 submerged in theliquid in the pan 32 so that the vented gas can be absorbed by theliquid. There is a vent pipe "82 leading from the elbow 36 through thepan 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In -case the liquor level in theabsorber falls below the lower side of thefelbow 36, tendency of liquorto siphon will be checked as soon as the level in the pipe 35 is lowerthan the bottom of the pipe 82, for the difference in head will thenresult in gas bubbling from pipe 82 in the -small well or pan 82 formedmidway of the horizontal arm of the elbow. Likewise, any tendency ofliquor to Siphon from the pan 32 will be Vchecked because the headinvolved at the end of the pipe 37 is greater than that at the end of.the pipe 82, the submergenoe of which 'would then be the lesser, and gaswill be drawn from the pipe 82 into the elbow 36. Correspondingly,preponderancepf gas pressure in the absorber over that in the transfertank when the liquor level is below the elbow y36 will be relievedthrough the pipe 82 in the same manner 'and for the same reasons.Y

terminates in an inverted U-shaped loop havvThe rich liquor enteringthestill becoming heated, 'the vapor, both ammoniaLand aqueous will passinto the pipe coil 7 where, as above explained,.the aqueous content-will be separated and the ammonia or active content thermostat 14 isshown in Fig. 8 as comprising a tube mounted on a valve casing 91 andhaving within a bellows 83, filled wit-hv a fluid which expands andcontracts, due to heat variations. The bellows or corrugated tubing 83.has a surrounding cylinder 84, headed at both ends and normally urgedin one direc- On the end of the bellows 83 opposite the spring there isa plug 86 slidable in the cylinder 84. On the endlof cylinder 84l nextthe plugthere is fixed a valve 87 to close the port 88 communicatingthrough the -inlet port 89' with the casing 13 and discharging throughthe outlet port 90, communicating with the expansion coil 11. Betweenthe inlet and outlet port of the casing 91 there 'is a hand operatedvalve 92 which may be initiallyset to provide for the maximum iow fromthe receiver to the expansion coil. Thereis also an adjusting Screw 93 nthe valve casing 91, extending through cylinder 84 tol contact with plug86, to regulate the extent of `movement of 'the member 84. Therefore,the thermostatic device shown in Fig. 8 can control the amountof theactive content of the refrigerant due to variations in temperature inthe zone aboutthe expansion coil, it being understood that the expansionvalve is to maintain the temperature in the refrigerator or coolingcompartment constant irrespective of variations .in the temperature ofthe outside atmosphere.

I have also provided means for regulating the heat supplied to thestill. This is accomplished through an automatic valve mechanism underthe control of a float in the receiver; the float, of course, beingmoved in response to variations of the liquid level 1n the receiver.

1n Fig. 3 l have shown a float 91 in the reby a rigid arm 99 andsurrounding the rock shaft 96 is a double-cone sleeve 100of very thinmetal, having a reduced` central part.

ItseXtremities may be welded to the receiver and to the valve casing 98respectively and at the. restricted portion of the double-cone member100 it is welded fast to the shaft 96 las at 101. Therefore, the floatcan twist the shaft slightly, twisting the double-cone memy ber 101since the member 101 is flexible enough to permit rocking of the shaft.By Awelding the double-cone memberv tothe receiver 10 and tothe casing98, it is obvious that leakage from the. receiver will be entirelyeliminated.

The arm 97 controls a valve 102 in the flow line for the gas or fuel.The fuel is fed from a pipe 103 which communicates `with the burner 6valve `casing 98. .The fuel passes from the valvey casing through a pipe104- and thence.

to the burner. Therefore, the mechanism shown in Figf3 will `eliicientlycontrol the amountof fuel passed to the burnersin ac cordanc'e with theamount of refrigerant in the receiver. When the refrigerant in thereceiver is relatively slightly lower, the burn- -er will be-suppliedwith more fuel than when the level in the receiver is normal. This willbewell understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 3. A hand-controlledvalve-105 shown at the may be provided for the burners if desired. y

AIn Fig. 6 li have illustrated .the interior of 60 the thermostaticallyactuated valve forcentrolling the How of weak liquor from the still 3tothe absorber 1. The coil 26 'enters the valve casing 27 and the pipe28 receives the discharge from the casing 27 and communi- Cates throughthe coil 29 with'the absorber,

as previously described, but there is a valve/ of the yokes there is athermostatic bellows element 110 and on the upper portion of the yoke109 lis a bellows thermostatlll. The

bellowsthermostatlll is in communication with the thermostatic element112 in the still, and the bellows thermostatic element 110 is incommunication with a thermostatic element 113 outside the still. Thethermostat 112 is subjected to the temperature of the liquor inthe still3`while the thermostatic element 113 is subjected to the temperature ofthe outside atmosphere which, being lower than that of the still, willoppose the action of the thermostatic mechanism controlled from theinside of the still. The purpose of opposing `the thermostats is toprovide a balance or equalization for variations in temperature'so thatthe valve 107 will open at a lower temperature when the condensingpressure is lower as in cooler weather.

When the thermostatic elements-5112 and 113 permit the opening of thevalve port 106, the pressure within the still can force the weak liquorfrom the still through the pipe 25, through the coil 26 'where therewill be a heat'exchange between thev outgoing'liquor and theincomingliquor'passing fromthe' l 4 rectifier to the still.l The outgoing liquorwill be forced through the pipe 28, through the .coil 29, through thetop of the tank 1 and into the pan 32 in the top of the tank 1 and asthis liquor is very weak, it is apparent that gas which has passed intothe' absorber "through coil 15 and pipe 16 will be reabsorbed by theweak liquor .in the absorber and by the weak liquor in the pan 32 and asthe level of the liquor in the pan 32 rises, it will overflow into pipe31 and circulate with the liquor in the coil 15 thus tending to maintainthe body of liquor in the .absorber at a uniform normal strength andreadyto be redelivered to the transfer device 'as before indica-ted.

f It is to be noted that when the charge of V.rich liquor passes fromthe transfer device,

the space above the low liquid level therein contains gas which hasdisplaced from the `transfer 2. the liquid passed into the still;

The opening of the port T6-.permits the gas in the transfer device toescape through port 76,

32 and be thereby' absorbed. Since the gas passing from transfer devicewill be absorbed by the weak liquor in pan 32, lthere will be noappreciable increase of pressure in the ab- J sorber and expansion coil.The weak liquor from the still, 4coming in through pipe 29, replenishesthe liquor in the pan 32, sowthat it relieved nfronr the transfer 2.

f course, it is to be understood that sight gauges can be providedwherever desirable, but usually ll would employ one for the lstill 3 andanother for the absorber tank. y

However, I do not wish to be limited to the location of any particularsight gauge because, obviously, these may be placed whereever desirable.

As a refinement of my invention'llhave providedmeans whereby the entiretransfer de# vice with its immediate appurtenances can be reinoved in aconvenient manner from the absorber, and to this end I mount the entiremechanism onf a bottom removable plate 114 adapted t0 be fastened bysuitable fastening devices, such as bolts 115,. Suitable may also beemployed if desired.

All of the parts in absorber may be drawn out with the bottom plate 114for inspection and repairs and in order to assist .in separatmg theparts of the valve housing, I provide,

the pan 32 with a funnel-shaped wall 116 (see Fig. 2) ,whereby the pipe78 can be tilted after it is loosened to swing the ends of the valvehousing. i AFrom the foregoing description it will be apparent that thedevice operates in an automatic, convenient manner, that thevvariousconditions underlying an absorption type -of refrigerating plant havebeen taken care of by mechanism adapted to perform the requisitefunctions to make the device practical, and

that when the deviceis set up in accordance with my invention, `it willoperate without personal attention.

It will be noted that the port 106 -,through which liquor passes fromthe still on its way to the absorber is quite small in proportion to theamount of liquor in the system, so that no extremely rapid depletionofthe still content occurs at anytime, this-contributing to preservestratication -in the still, and having also the effect of preventingabrupt variations of strength of the content 'of the stillnv It alsovtends to cause the heat of the still to be maintained at a comparativelyuniform .degree and to prevent ,eXtreme fluctuations in the heatcontrol.= The burner is, constantly in operation, and there is also a`constant flow of liquor from the still' to the. absorber in normalyoperation, largely -due to the small port from the still; F 'llheliquorports ofthe transfer'devlce are ,also comparatively small so thatthere is no rapid lowering of llevel of the absorber, and the transferto the still is not rapidenough to produce'any abrupt` variation oftemperatureior strength of the-liquor therein.` The thermostat 112 isfound towork best with an expansive fiuid content, rather than oneoperative by vaporization to operate the valve 107. l

packing eating with the absorber and an outlet comto the absorber, meansresponsive to varia-- tions of temperature in the still for` controllingtheflow of liquor from the still to ythe absorber, and cooperativelyassociated means to conduct liquor from the absorber to the stilladapted to operate substantially constantly and simultaneousl with theow of liquor from still to absor er, to maintain a predetermined uniformstrength of liquor in the still and in the absorber, and a heater forthe still. ,f v c L ,2. In a continuous absorption refrigeration system,a still, a condenser, a liquefied gas collector, an evaporator, anabsorber, and conduits connecting the above named elements, incombination with still-operated means to conduct weak liquor from thestill to the absorber, means responsive to variations of temperature inthe still for controlling the flow e of liquor from the still to theAabsorber to .l maintain an approximately uniform strength of liquor inthe still and in the absorber, and 95 trol the heater and responsive tovariation of -mined quantitive liquid ratio between the still,the'collectorfand 'theabsorben and to 110 maintain an approximatelyluniform strength of liquor in the still and the absorber, said meanscomprising a heater for the still, a liquidf'level control meansoperatively associated with the collector to control the heater M forthe still, a transfernmeans to conduct liquor from the absorber to thestill, overflow means in the absorbente permit the absorber to dischargethrough the transfer means into the still upon thel accumulation'of ayprede- 120 termined volume of liquor in the absorber, and meansresponsive to` variations of tem-l perature in the still for controllingthe flow of li uor from the still to the absorber.

4. n an absorption `System of' refrigeration including a still, and anabsorber,y `a

`transfer device for transferring liquor from the absorber into thestill, the transfer` device including a tank having an inlet communi- *1o `municating with the still, valve seats for the inlet'and outlet, avalve outside the seat and bearing against the outlet valve seat, and avalve inwardly of and bearing against the.

inlet valve seat, so that they will be held seated by pressures from thestill and transfer device respectively, and lioatactuated means Withinthe tank connected to the valves to cause them to move in unison. Y

5. In means for transferring liquor from l an absorber to the stillinabsorption refrigeration systems, a tank having liquor inlet and outletpgrts, pressure balancing and venting ports, valves for the ports andioat actuated means Within the tank connected to the valves to causethem to move in unison, the

doat ot the Heat actuated means having cerhaving a loop conduitconnected thereto at tain lree,independent movement in either or twodirections before the valves are actuated, and means to oppose onlyinitially and yieldingly movement of the valves in either direction.

6. ln means for transferring liquor fromV an absorber to the still inrefrigeration systems, a tank havingan inlet communicating vvitb theabsorber, andan outlet communieating with the still, valves operative toalternately close the inlet and outlet, a-valve operating Hoat inthe-tank, doat operated means to cause the valves to move in unisonincluding a motion reducing connection between the lioat and the valvesand a device constructed to oppose initial'movement of the valves ineach direction and to accelerate the terminal movement of the valves ineach direction, said transfer device including pres-I sure balancing`means'intermittently operativebetvveen the still and transfer meanscoordinate with the valves and valve operatl ing means first named.

7. In a system of the character described including a still, condenser,expansion eley ment, an absorber receiving the expanded refrigerant andmeans to transfer liquor from the absorber to the still; the absorberboth ends including an ascending return portion leading into theabsorber, the expandu edrefrigerant conduit 4from the expansion elementdischarging into the lovver part of said ascending portion, the transferconduit from the absorber to the still including Aa portion in heatexchange relation to said asc cending portion of the loop, whereby heatof absorption will be conserved to aid in distillation.,

In testimony whereof ll aiix ny l RALPH E. S al1 1

